Phyllanthus niruri L., (Syn. P. fraternus Webster), Euphorbiaceae,
is a common kharif (rainy season) weed found in both cultivated fields and wastelands.
In different Indian languages it is known as bhuiaonla (Hindi) kiranelligida
(Canarese), bhuiavli (Marathi), ajata, amala, bbumyamalaki, sukshmadala,
vituntika (Sanskrit). Although considered a problematic wee for farmers
it is a valuable medicinal for herbalists (Oudhia and Tripathi 2002) and holds
a reputed position in both Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. Recently
it has attracted the attention of researchers, because of its hepatoprotective
properties. No effective specific therapy is available for viral epatitis but
P. niruri has shown clinical efficacy in viral Hepatitis B (Paranjpe 2001).

Phyllanthus niruri is an annual, herb; height varies between 3060
cm. Stem is angular with numerous distichous, elliptic-oblong leaves. Flowers
are yellow and very numerous; monoecious with 13 staminate flowers and
solitary pistillate flower borne axillary. Fruits capsule, very small, globose,
smooth, seeds 3-gonous, longitudinally ribbed on the back. Seed to seed cycle
occurs in two or four weeks. The flowering time in Indian conditions is July
to August. Keys for identification of different species of Phyllanthus
are found in Caius (1986), Agharkar (1991), and Gupta (984).

Its root, leaves, fruits, milky juice, and whole plants are used as medicine.
According to Ayurvedic system of medicine it is considered acrid, cooling ,
alexipharmic and useful in thirst, bronchitis, leprosy, anemia, urinary discharge,
anuria, biliousness, asthma, for hiccups, and as a diuretic. According to Unani
system of medicine herb is stomachic and good for sores and useful in chronic
dysentery. Fruits useful for tubercular ulcers, wounds, sores, scabies and ring
worm (Agharkar 1991; Krishnamurty 1993). The fresh root is believed to be an
excellent remedy for jaundice. A poultice of the leaves with salt cures scabby
affection and without salt applied on bruise and wounds. The milky juice is
a good application to offensive sores. The bark yields a bitter principle phyllanthin.
The infusion of the root and leaves is a good tonic and diuretic when taken
cold in repeated doses. In different parts of India, specially, in Chhattisgarh
state, there is a rich traditional medicinal tradition concerning this weed
(Caius 1986; Oudhia and Tiwari 2001). In many parts of India, it is commonly
used for the treatment of snake bite. The active compounds phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin
have been isolated from leaves. Recently, lignansniranthin, nirtetralin, and
phyltetralin have been isolated from leaves. (Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1991) It
is a major component of many popular liver tonics in India including Liv.-52.
Fresh juice and powder of dried plant are used most frequently in Ayurvedic
preparations (Sastry and Kavatherkar, 1991). The plant is used as a fish poison.
In many parts of India specially in deserts, the roots mixed with Commiphora
mukul are given to camels to cure indigestion. The decoction of leaves and stem
are used for dyeing cotton black. (Singh et al. 1996).